Eric Garcia has been at the center of transfer speculation surrounding FC Barcelona in recent weeks, with the club needing to offload one or two players to make room for key target Marcus Rashford.
For quite some time, it was believed that García could be the one to leave, along with Ansu Fati. The versatile defender was also courting interest from Girona and Como, who had sent offers for him.
However, everything changed last week, especially after the game against Benfica, where García put in a good display after coming on as a substitute, scoring a key goal as well.
Barcelona have since ruled out his departure, with manager Hansi Flick playing a key role in convincing the Spaniard to continue.
Eric García initially wanted to leave
Now, Sport have reported that Garcia had a clear vision at the start of the winter transfer window – he was looking for a move to find more playing time.
The Spain international had also revealed his intentions in the dressing room, but plans changed after he received a confidence boost from Hansi Flick.
García did not want to simply rely on his contract for a comfortable life in Barcelona. At 24 years old, his desire was to play regularly, something that only happened sporadically at the Catalan club.
As a result, he had confided in his teammates that his intention was to leave the club, with whom he has a contract until June 2026. He had received an attractive offer from Girona, while other clubs, such as Real Sociedad, also showed interest.
Flick was also aware of Garcia’s dissatisfaction with the minutes he was getting and opted to show his confidence in the 24-year-old by bringing him on against Benfica at a crucial point in the game, with the player making a decisive contribution.
After that, there was a conversation between the player and the manager, which left the defender convinced to continue.
The German tactician values players with García’s profile, those who prioritize the team over their personal situations. The film was determined not to let him go, and it seems to have succeeded.
Against Valencia on Sunday, he was rewarded with a starting role ahead of Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen.